Volunteer

Reston Association (RA) is seeking volunteers to participate in the Weed Warriors Project on Saturday, May 22 from 10 a.m. -noon at Buttermilk Creek Nature Trail.Volunteers will work to restore the only nature trail in central Reston. No experience necessary, just an interest in the Reston community. Volunteers must be at least 12 years old, and children between the ages of 12-14 must be accompanied by an adult. To sign up, or for more information email habrock@reston.org or visit the website www.reston.org.

Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) is calling for

volunteers for the 13th Annual Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival on May 22 and 23 at Reston Town Center. For more information, contact GRACE at 703-471-9242, e-mail info@restonarts.org or visit the GRACE gallery at 11911 Freedom Drive, Suite 110 in Reston Town Center. GRACE has multiple volunteer opportunities available, such as artist relations; children's art zone; hospitality tables; logistics; merchandise; publicity; set-up/take-down, signage; survey; beer/wine sales and more. Volunteer opportunities are open to everyone. These opportunities are also extended to businesses interested in coordinating a volunteer program to feature their company and employees in the community.

American Red Cross has scheduled a new volunteer orientation for 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, June 9 at its North Fairfax Office, 112 Herndon Pkwy., Herndon. Red Cross volunteers learn how to help prevent, prepare for and respond to community emergencies. For more information or to register, go to www.redcrossnca.org and click on "How to Volunteer."

Volunteers are needed for "Taste of the Town," sponsored by Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. The June 19 event, held at Reston Town Center, needs volunteers to take 2 1/2 hour shifts between noon and 10 p.m. Volunteers will receive free food tickets and a t-shirt. Visit www.restonchamber.org for a Taste of the Town volunteer form.

Volunteers are needed weekday mornings from 10 a.m. until noon to guide individuals and families through four rooms of the Kidwell Farmhouse at Frying Pan Park in Herndon. Training is provided. Preferred commitment is at least two shifts per month. Kidwell Farm, located at Frying Pan Park and operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority, recreates the era from 1920 to 1950 when family dairy farms blanketed the local landscape. For more information call Sherry Bizette at 703-437-5318 or apply on-line at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks.

Volunteer Fairfax will sponsor a week-long leadership institute for students who display leadership qualities to be held on Monday, June 2-Saturday, June 26. The Prudential Youth Leadership Institute teaches youth an array of leadership skills through both classroom instruction and experiential training. During the institute, participants will plan their own community service project and implement it as a group. The institute includes five days of activities for youth, including team building, project leadership, decision-making, diversity training and other dynamic leadership activities. Students will participate in field trips around the local community and plan and implement a service project to take place on the final day, Saturday, June 26. The Institute is free; qualified students simply need to apply. Students entering grades 10-12 who would benefit from the institute and take the vital skills they gain back to their respective communities are encouraged to apply. For more information or to receive an application, contact Jessica Segal at Volunteer Fairfax at 703-246-3460, or email jsegal@volunteerfairfax.org.

Volunteers are needed to serve on The Reston Multicultural Festival's Planning Committee. The Reston Multicultural Festival is a one-day extravaganza of music, dance, art, crafts and food to celebrate the cultural diversity of Reston. The festival, which is held every September, attracts thousands of people to Lake Anne Village Center. This year's festival will be held on Saturday, Sept. 18 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Lake Anne Village Center. Planning Committee members plan and implement the entire festival. There are volunteer opportunities for every aspect of the festival including opening and closing ceremonies, entertainment, art displays, craft and food sales and demonstrations and publicity. For further information, contact Anna Dowdell, Volunteer Coordinator, at the Reston Community Center at 703-648-2857.

Kids R First, a non-profit all volunteer organization, will hold its Third Annual Golf Classic on Friday, June 25 at Pleasant Valley Golfers' Club located in Chantilly. Proceeds from the classic will help to provide school supplies in the fall of 2004 for 11,000 students from families in need in the Dulles corridor area. Students attending 58 schools in communities of Reston, Herndon, Sterling, Chantilly, Centreville, and Leesburg will be recipients. Kids R First is seeking sponsorships and participation from the community to support this program. Two separate raffles are being offered for a beach or mountain vacation. Raffle drawing will be held at the conclusion of the tournament on June 25. The winners need not be present. For golfing registration, inquiries about various levels of sponsorship, and purchase of raffle tickets, call 703-860-2255, or e-mail kidsrfirst2@msn.com. Sponsorship or registration forms also are available at www.kidsrfirst.org. If unable to participate, make a tax-deductible donation to Kids R First, P.O. Box 3242, Reston, VA 20195. Tournament fees or donations may be paid for by credit card or check.

Volunteer opportunities currently exist for Information Desk Volunteers and Mobile Guides at Washington Dulles International Airport. A Travelers Aid Volunteer must have a "friendly, helpful manner and enjoy interacting with people from all over the world." Volunteers are asked to make a commitment to work one 3-4 hour shift per week. Early morning, mid-morning, afternoon and evening shifts are available seven days a week. There is a great need for volunteers who can work early morning, evening or weekend shifts. Experience in airline/airport operations, customer service work or knowledge of a foreign language are a plus but not necessary. Travelers Aid provides training, themed attire and courtesy parking. Training is ongoing. For more information regarding the program and upcoming training opportunities, contact 703-572-7350 or email Volunteer@mwaa.com.

The Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is seeking volunteers for nursing homes or assisted living facilities in their communities and weekly visits. Listening, observing and mediating, the ombudsman works with the residents, their families and the facility staff to ensure that resident's rights are protected and they are being adequately helped. Applicants must successfully complete training and must be available to volunteer four hours per week during regular business hours. Anyone interested who is not employed by a long-term care facility and can commit one year to working as an Ombudsman can call 703-324-5435. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ombudsman.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training is recruiting volunteers to train for marathons and races to honor local cancer patients. For more information call 703-960-1100 or visit www.teamintraining.org.

Inova VNA Home Health needs volunteers to visit homebound patients. Volunteers spend one to two hours a week talking to the patients, running errands and doing odd jobs. Visits are made during the day, evening or on weekends. Training is provided. Call 703-642-9041.

The Advisory Board of the Northwest Center for Mental Health in Fairfax County is looking for volunteers. The non-profit board meets monthly on first Wednesday evenings. Applications are accepted on a continuing basis. For more information, call Cleveland Williams at 703-435-0868 or email sue.boucher@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Fairfax County General Court Services is seeking volunteers and interns to assist in the Fairfax County General District Court performing administrative tasks. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age and successfully pass a criminal background investigation. To request an application, call Lorraine Lottahall, volunteer/intern coordinator, for an application at 703-246-4760 or e-mail lorraine.lottahall@fairfaxcounty.

The Fairfax County Public Library seeks volunteers to assist staff in its Public Information Office a minimum of two hours per week. Candidates must read English well, be detail-oriented and able to work at the Fairfax County Government Center near Fair Oaks mall in Fairfax. Familiarity with local newspapers a plus. Interested applicants should contact Linda Gifford at 703-324-8324 or Linda.Gifford@fairfaxcounty.gov.